How to Encourage Students to Use Your Laundry Facility

Laundry facilities are essential for college students who tend to live in shared dormitories or small apartments without any washers or dryers. Whether you own an on-site laundry room or a stand-alone laundromat, you’re in a great position to earn a comfortable living. However, having a location near a college isn’t enough to get the business you want. Follow these strategies for encouraging more students to use your laundry facilities so you can get the most out of your business.

Make the space comfortable.
It’s common for college students to stick around until their laundry is complete, especially when the facility is off-campus. Laundromat owners who can make their space more accommodating and comfortable will have a competitive edge in the market. Make sure you have a variety of seating options such as couches, chairs, and stools. It’s also advisable to have tables and open outlets so students can do their homework when waiting for their clothes to get clean.

Suggested Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Doing Laundry in College

Invest in high-speed Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is the lifeblood of college students that keep them connected to friends, family, school, and entertainment. There’s a general expectation among the public that businesses will provide complimentary Wi-Fi. It’s something college students expect to see at a laundromat too. Investing in lightning-speed, secure, and reliable connectivity will instantly make your laundry facility stick out when compared to other options. Whether a college student needs to get some homework done or wants to catch up on the latest episode of their favorite show, they’ll gravitate towards a laundromat that can provide good Wi-Fi.

Offer deals and discounts.
It’s no secret that college students are living on highly restricted budgets. A great way to stand out from other laundry facilities is to offer special offers such as sign-up deals, student discounts, and loyalty programs. Reducing your profit margins might sound counterintuitive, but you’ll end up coming out on top as those discounts attract more repeat customers over time. Just make sure you take the time to advertise these deals via social media or email.

Show school pride.
A key element to running any successful business is catering to your target audience. Operating a laundromat is no exception. If you’re trying to encourage more college students to use your facilities, become a part of the local culture. Hang up college banners, spice up your facility with school colors, show local games on TV, and anything else that shows your school spirit. College students will automatically associate your laundromat with the school itself.

Start a student-oriented blog.
Many college students have never actually done a load of laundry on their own before moving away from home. Naturally, they’ll be looking online for answers about how to do laundry properly. You can position your business as a local expert while attracting more students to use your laundry facility by starting a student-focused blog. Providing tips and suggestions on your website’s blog will increase your exposure among local college students which will lead to more customers overall.

Build a partnership with the school.
Another fantastic way to get in front of students is to work out a deal with the local college or university. You could sponsor school events or teams to get your name noticed by more students, or you could work out a special discount program where students get unique deals when using your facility. When students see a laundry facility’s name associated with their school, they’ll instantly view it more favorably. This gives you a leg-up on the competition.

Looking for a dependable and local commercial equipment provider? You’re in the right place! Coin Meter has been helping laundry businesses get their hands on state-of-the-art equipment to take their businesses to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer.

Dispelling 5 Myths About Adding a Laundry Facility to Your Property

Running a multi-unit property is a tough job. You have to maintain upkeep for entire apartment complexes or campuses and keep residents happy while maintaining a positive budget. Naturally, property owners are cautious about how and where they invest.

Laundry facilities are a popular point of contention within this line of work with some property owners swearing by them and others avoiding them at all costs. Here, we’re going to uncover some of the popular myths regarding shared laundry rooms to help property owners gain a better understanding of their value.

Myth #1: It’s too expensive to run.
As a property owner, you’re only going to make investments that make fiscal sense. And given the perceived cost of running a laundry facility, most people assume it simply isn’t worthwhile. The cost of purchasing the equipment, paying for repairs, and covering utility expenses seems too high for it to be worthwhile.

The Reality: A laundry facility is a significant investment for property owners. There’s no doubt about that. However, many people fail to see the ROI this investment can provide. Not only are properly-run laundry rooms highly profitable, but they also can increase resident retention. It’s an investment that can pay for itself multiple times over the years.

Myth #2: Tenants aren’t going to use it.
Understandably, owners are hesitant about putting money into anything that their tenants won’t use. After all, if renters don’t take advantage of what you provide, it’s essentially a waste of money. Unfortunately, it’s a common myth among property owners that residents will opt for laundromats instead of on-site laundry facilities.

The Reality: Laundry facilities are some of the most commonly used shared spaces in rental properties. The majority of people report doing laundry twice each week with nearly a third doing laundry every single day! Even tenants who currently do their laundry elsewhere will gladly settle for going down the hall instead of down the road. On-premise laundry facilities are incredibly convenient as they help tenants save time and money.

Myth #3: Laundry facilities require a ton of oversight.
Another common misconception about laundry facilities is the amount of time they require from property owners. You already have enough on your plate managing a multi-tenant property, so the idea of bringing on anything that demands more of your attention seems foolish.

The Reality: Modern laundry facilities with state-of-the-art equipment are almost entirely automated, requiring zero daily oversight from owners. You’ll only need to show up to collect cash and coins from the machines, clean up every once in a while, and manage the occasional equipment issue – which leads us to another common myth about laundromats.

Myth #4: Equipment upkeep is expensive and time-consuming.
There are two commodities property owners can never get enough of: time and money. That’s why so many believe a shared laundry facility is a net loss. Horror stories of busted and malfunctioning equipment fuel the myth that commercial laundry equipment requires constant maintenance, resulting in wasted time and investments.

The Reality: Modern, capable, and premium-quality commercial laundry equipment requires minimal upkeep. Property owners can avoid the time and money drains they fear by resisting the temptation to purchase low-quality, used machines. Plus, you can even find providers who offer same-day, affordable maintenance so you never have to worry about repairs.

Myth #5: Commercial equipment costs a fortune.
One of the strongest falsehoods surrounding shared laundry facilities is the cost of adding new commercial equipment. Property owners only have to take a gander at the price tag of a brand-new washer or dryer to get instantly turned off by the idea.

The Reality: It’s true that new commercial equipment is expensive. However, there’s another way for property managers to get the washers and dryers they need to open a shared laundry facility. There are commercial providers that will install equipment completely free while only requiring a fraction of your earnings. That’s free equipment for no extra work on your part!

Wondering where you can find a reliable commercial laundry provider? Look no further! The Coin Meter Company has been supplying local property owners throughout the northwest with state-of-the-art laundry equipment at no cost. We even offer routine servicing to keep things running smoothly. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer.